Report - Central Connecticut State University

Department of Anthropology 2011-12 Annual Report
School of Arts & Sciences Central Connecticut State University
As part of an independent study, student Jenn Davis is in the midst of a research project, conducting
documentary research at the Pilfershire site, an abandoned eighteenth- and nineteen-century village in
Simsbury.
Several students carried out internships that required community-based research, including Jennifer
Galvin and Monica Khokhar at the Hartford Action Plan, working on community responses to sex
trafficked children.
Several anthropology students were recognized beyond the classroom for their research:
Kate Johns- Galvin won the 2012 Undergraduate Library Research Award, for her senior thesis entitled,
‘Green Oasis in a Food Desert: Increasing the Accessibility of Affordable Healthy Foods in an Urban
Neighborhood in Hartford, CT’. Ms. Johns-Galvin also submitted her work for the Harriet Beecher Stowe
award.
Jennifer Galvin presented, in several public fora, the results of her internship with the Hartford Action
Plan, “Sex Trafficking in CT and in the U.S: Recognizing the Enslaved Child Sex Worker.
Student Bonnie Plourde submitted a poster presentation at URCAD, “Cremation Burial Rites, Rituals and
Belief Structures of the Terminal Archaic Period of CT,” based on her field work with Ken Feder’s
summer course and previous work with the anthropology professor at Tunxis Community College.
“The focus of my research is to create reasonable hypotheses regarding the religious beliefs of the
people of the Terminal Archaic Period of CT. The Terminal Archaic period dates from 3400
BCE – 2700 BCE. To form these hypotheses I am in the process of researching several cremation
burial sites, a soapstone quarry where soapstone bowls were carved out of the earth and the
habitat site next to the soapstone quarry. My research for the burials themselves focuses on the
grave goods present which include lithic points, tools and jewelry. My study of the quarry and
habitat sites will focus on the everyday life of the people who lived during the time of these
cremations. Finally I will be speaking with tribal members who live on the lands in CT today,
looking into the historical record to find ritual patterns and finally looking at research regarding
cultural trade.”
Section 5 Summary of Other Noteworthy Accomplishments
The department worked with Sarah Brinn and hired student Kaylah Smith to identify our alum majors and
prepare a fund-raising/alumni program with them. We received our first pledge (without even directly
asking!) of $600.
Michael Park kicked off the Academy for the Public Understanding of Science, teaching a special topics
course, and hosting several well-attended public lectures.
Anthropology students “swept” the CCSU and CSU awards this year! Kaylah Smith was named a
Barnard Scholar, Katherine Johns-Galvin won the 2012 Undergraduate Library Research Award, as well
as departmental honors.
Evelyn Phillips was accepted by the CIIE to participate in the seminar “Women and Change,” in Amman,
Jordan.